Interlocking and target-operating mechanism for switch-stands.



F. C. ANDERSON. INTERLOCKING AND TARGET OPERATING MECHANISM F03 SWITCH STANDS.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

2- SHEETS-SHEEI' 11 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2-1. l9l6.

F. C. ANDERSON.

INTERLOCKING AND TARGET OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SWITCH STANDS. APPLICATION men MAR. 21. ms.

1,276,157; Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

2 SHEETS-S HEET 2- W1! 671/6336 fm/ nzor looking and target UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK G. ANDERSON, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN VALVE & METERGOMPANY, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

INTERLOGKING AND TARGET-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SWITCH-STANDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Application filed March 27, 1916. Serial No. 86,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking and Target-Operating Mechanism for Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch stands; and its object is to provide aswitch stand with an interlocking mechanism and a target mechanism and to simultaneously operate both of these mechanisms, preliminary to the throwing of the switch.

My invention consists in the combination of parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts, as will herein be more fully described and claimed. 7

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a switch stand, its interlocking mechanism and its target, provided with my invention;

-Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the target connecting rod;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the stem with the connecting-rod shown by dotted lines in its position that it has whilebeing connected to the stem;

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of the bell-crank;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of thehead and plunger; f

Fig. 6 is a plan View of part of the switch 'standand part ofthe target and the interoperating mechanism; and

Fig." 7 is a vertical-longitudinal section on a plane corresponding to the line 77 of Fig. 6, only the lower part of the switch stand and connections thereto being shown.

- The switch stand 1 has the main shaft 2 journaled vertically in it, being held in upper and lower bearings by "caps 3 and 4, respectively. Below the lower bearing this shafthasthe crank 5 with the'crank pin of which'is adaptedto receive the connecting rod 5,which is connected to the point rails 6 of the switch. Above the upper bearing,

said main shaft 2 has, lived on it, the fulcrum head 7 bearing down against the upper .side of the upper hearing. The fulcrum- Ihead 7 has the switch-operating lever or handle 8 pivotally swinging on the pivot 9.

The top of this switch stand 1 comprises the horizontal plate 10 which has slots 11, 11 and 11", the first two being diametrically opposite on a line through the center of the main shaft 2 and substantially parallel with the track rail, being thus 180 apart; while the third slot 11" is at the rear of the stand half way between or 90 from the slots 11 and 11. The handle or lever 8 is adapted to engage in any one of these slots. As the switch stand is here shown, the main shaft 2 is adapted to be turned through an angle of 90 to throw the switch, and the handle or lever 8 is adapted to engage in the slot 11 when the switch is closed as shown, or in the slot 11 when the switch is opened. When the switch stand is to have its main shaft 2 turned through 180 to throw the switch, the middle slot 11 is omitted. The other slot 11 comes into use, and the slot 11 into disuse, where the stand is to have its shaft 2 operated through only 90 but where it is desired that the handle or lever 8 be at the other side of the stand when it has closed the switch, as is the case when the switch turns out in the opposite direction from that here shown. Such an arrangement is necessary in connection with the proper arrangement of the interlocking mechanism. For this reason also the crank 5 is made to fit in a head 2 on the lower end of the shaft 2 in any one of the four different positions which the switch stand may be required to occupy, accordingly as the switch turns out to the right or to the left in either one of two directions along the track.

The switch stand 1 has the stop lugs 12 under the slots 11 and 11, respectively to stop thelever 8 when it is brought down into its slot 11 or 11. Theolug 13011 the lever 8 projects through an opening 13 in the end of the fulcrum-head 7 when the lever is in the slot 11 or 11, this lug having an opening 13 to receive the part of the padlock.

Whether the main shaft 2 is operated through 180 or 90, or whether it has any other degree of rotation, is immaterial to the operation of the parts comprising my invention, because the operation of my invention takes place entirely during the preliminary movement of the handle or lever 8 when it is raised out of the slot 11 or 11,

. as the case may be. The mechanism so far the target is placed on an upward extension of the main shaft 2, and the target is not turned until the main shaft is turned and throws the switch; but where the target is to be operated preliminarily to the switch throwing movement, a separate shaft 15 is journaled vertically, parallel with the main shaft 2, in upper and lower brackets 16 and 17, which are bolted to the switch stand along with the caps 3 and 4, respectively, of the upper and lower bearings of the shaft 2. These brackets not only extend outwardly some distance from the main shaft but are also offset toward one side of the switch stand. Below the lower bracket 17 an arm 18 is screwed into a hub 18 pinned or otherwise suitably fixed to the target shaft 15. A lock nut 1S prevents iuiscrewing of the arm 18 from the hub 18. A collar 15 is fixed on the shaft 15 above the upper bracket 16 to support the shaft. The upper end of the target shaft carries the blades 19 and 20 extending at right angles to each other and adapted, respectively, when turned in directions crosswise of the track to signal safety or danger.

It will thus be seen that the target .shaft 15 is to be rotated through only 90 whether the main shaft 2 be rotated through 90 as shown, or through 180 as may be desirable.

The interlock and target operating lever 21 has a pivot 22 in one of the two stops 23 and 24 which are provided on the plate 10 for the fulcrum-head 7. This pivot 22 is substantially concentric with the pivot 9 of the switch-operating lever or handle 8. The lever 21 extends down and has a lug 25 that projects over toward the switch operating lever 8 to enter a recess 26 in said switch operating lever when. it is brought over toward the interlock and target operating lever.

The switch stand 1 is mounted on the head blocks 27, and one of these, close to the.

switch stand, between the switch stand and the track, is gained or recessed and receives a housing 28. The point-rail 6 of the switch has a guard 29 bolted to it, as seen in'Fig. 1, and the interlocking-bar 30 is secured to this guard 29 by means of nuts 31, flanking the guard and adjustable along a rounded part 32 of the bar 30. This bar 30 slides through a part 28 ofthe housing 28 that extends outside the head block 27. A guide 33 for the interlocking-bar 30 is-also provided on the head block 27 about mid-way between the housing 28 and'the track, to reinforce said bar and render the operation of the apparatus more accurate.

The housing-28 has, integral with it and 7 extending out from all of its sides, a flat plate 34 which lies flat on the upper side of the head block 27, completely covering therecess or gain in the head block and being screwed or otherwise suitable secured to the head block. It also has a depending web 34 to close the inner end of the gain in the head block 27.

Sliding horizontally in the housing 28, at right angles to the interlocking-bar 30, is the interlocking-plunger 35. The interlocking-bar 30 has an opening 36, and this interlockingplunger 35 can extend through this opening and out through the outside of the housing 28 when the point-rail 6 is drawn up close to the stock-rail of the track and is perfectly safe for traffic. The parts are so made however, that if the pointrail 6' is, for any reason, leftany appreciable distance away from the stock-rail, the plunger 35 cannot enter the opening 36.

Extending up from the upper side of the plate 34, is a crank-casing 37 with-a cover 38 secured to its top and holding in bearings formed in said casingand cover the transverse shaft 39, which makes up, with the arms 40 and the arms 41, a bell-crank of integral construction. The plunger 35, sliding in the part 28 of the housing 28 outside the head block and in an inner bearing 28" that extends down from the plate 34, has its innor end part fixed to a head 42, by extending through a downwardly'extended lug 42 on said head with a transverse pin 42 through it and the lug. The main part of the head 42 is horizontal, and about on the level of the plate 34 that is around the outside of the housing; the bottom ofthe casing being entirely open from end to end, leaving a space for this head 42 to slide in. The lug 42 is of muchless widththan the main part ofthe head; and at the sides of the main part are recesses 43, in which engage the lower'end parts of the arms 40, in such amanner that, as the arms 41 of the bell-crank are raised, these arms 40 will pull the plunger 3'5.back from the interlocking bar 30.

The head, 42 also has an upwardly extending lug '44, also somewhat narrower than the main part of the head, so that it may pass between the arms 40, as they reciprocate the head. A stem 45 extends through and hasa bearing in the inner or rear .end 37 of the crank casing 37, with a reduced part extendingthrough an openfrom turning, I prefer to place a'rivet or I pin 48 down through the lug 44 and the part of .the stem 45 lying therein. The part of the stem 45 outside the housing has an upright widened part 49 with an elongated a short but wide upper horizontal part 51,

and widened lower. horizontal part 50, and V extending rearwardly from it; while the lower part 50 has, some distance to the rear of the rear termination of the upper part 51, an upright stud 52. Preferably this stem 15 and these parts 49, 50, 51, 52, are formed integral. A connecting rod 53 has an eye 51 fitting over the stud 52, at one end; and its other end is screwed into a fork 55 that receives the arm 18 of the target shaft 15 be tween its members, with a pin 56 passing down through the members and the arm. A lock nut 57 prevents the stem 53 from turning in the fork 55. The eye 54 of the connecting rod 53 has the spur 58 extending forwardly under the short upper part 51 of the stem 45 at all times while the stem is connected to the arm 18 by the connecting rod; the part 51 being wide enough to be engaged by this spur upon rising of the connecting rod 53 in any of its operative positions while making the above connection. The connecting rod 53 has its eye 54; slipped over this stud 52 while it is turned far out of operative position, before connecting it to the arm 18, as is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

About opposite the lug 25, on the interlock and target-operating lever 21, is a boss 59, in which is a stud 60, extending out over the above described interlock and target-operating mechanism. A connecting rod 61 has an eye 62 around this stud 60, held thereon by a nut 63. This connecting rod 61 extends down, and a bridle 64 has an upwardly extending hub 65 into which the lower end of the rod 61 is screwed and held by a lock nut 66. This bridle 64L lies between the end parts of the arms 41, with a pin 67 through it and said arms.

With the parts thus arranged, when it is desired to open the switch, finding the lever 8 and the other parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the operator removes the padlock from the opening in the lug 13, and raises the lever 8 to its horizontal position, so as to release it from the slot 11. In doing this, he raises the interlock operating lever 21 along with the lever 8, by the engagement of the lug 25 in the recess 26 in said lever 8. Raising this lever 21 thus to its horizontal position, it operates, through the connection by means of the rod 61 and bridle 64, to

raise the arms 41 of the bell-crank, which, as before described, withdraws the plunger 35 from the interlocking bar 30. At the same time, the head 412 will operate through the stem 45 and connecting rod 53 and arm 18 to turn the target shaft 15 and its target elements 19 and 20 through the required angle of 90, to change the target from safety to danger position.

If desired, the interlocking plunger 35 may be provided with a locking mechanism consisting of a vertical bolt 68, which fits in a notch or recess 69 in the upper side of the plunger 35 between the parts 28 and 28" of:

the housing 28, having a casing 70 formed in this housing 28, between these parts, and extending up above the plate 31 of the housing, and having in its top an opening 71 for the bolt 68 to pass'through. Above the top tially spherical knob 78 fitting in the recess 73 of the head 72 on the bolt 68. Thus, when the treadle 75 is depressed, the bolt 68 will be raised out of the notch'69 in the plunger 35. To normally press the bolt 68 down in this notch 69, a helical spring 79 is passed around the bottom 68, inside the casing 70, between the lower side of the top of the casing and a downwardly cupped washer 80 on the bolt, which is held thereon by a pin 81 passing through the bolt inside the cupped partof the washer, and prevented from leaving its position by the rim of this cupped part at both sides. The pin 81 is inserted into the bolt 68 through an opening 82 in the part 28", while the cupped washer 80 is raised; and when the pin has reached its position, the spring 79, is allowed to force the washer 80 down over the pin. Thus the pin and washer maintain each other in position.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure in my Letters Patent is:

1. In interlocking and target-operating mechanisms for switch stands, in combination with an interlocking plunger adapted to lie below the upper surface of a head block, a housing adapted to be mounted on said head block over said plunger, and means adapted for connection to the operating mechanism of a switch stand and extending into said housing in operative engagement with said plunger, a stem extending through and guided by a wall of said housing and operatively connected to said plunger, anda connecting rod pivoted to said stem outside the housing for operative connection of said mechanism to a rotary target.

2. In interlocking and target-operating mechanism for switch stands, in combination with an interlocking plunger adapted to lie plunger, a stem extending through and guided by a Wall of said housing and operatively connected to said plunger, a connecting rod for connection to a rotary target, a connection for said connecting rod and said stem, and means whereby said connection is mamtained When sald connecting rod is in 7 position for operative connection to said target but permitting disconnection when the connecting rod is swung out of said position. 10 g FRANK C. ANDERSON. \Vi'tncsses CLARENCE PERDEW, HELEN DOWREY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, By addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

